FOI reveals the equivalent of 318 years of work is lost through sickies pulled by Welsh Government staff

Concerns have been raised about an alleged lack of progress in bringing down the rate of sickies pulled by Welsh Government staff and civil servants – after figures revealed the absence rate had stagnated over a period of three years.

Figures revealed in a written answer to the Welsh Conservatives showed more than 116,000 days had been lost to sickness between 2011 and 2013, equivalent to 318 years of work lost in that period. Another 20,000 days have already been lost in the first six months of 2014.

It means that, for every person employed by the government, an average of more than a week (between 7.07 and 7.45 days) is lost to sickness for each one.

I am a journalist and author. I am a staff writer at the UK edition of WIRED magazine and in 2015 my book, Freedom of Information: A Practical Guide for UK Journalists, was published. I created FOI Directory in 2012.